Robert
Pirosh

From Bastogne to the MGM backlot

Combat! was developed by World
War II veteran Robert Pirosh, who wrote and produced the pilot episode. Before serving in
World War II, Pirosh co-wrote many popular comedy films, including A Day at the Races,
starring the Marx Brother, and Danny Kaye's Up In Arms.

During the war, Pirosh rose to the rank of Master Sergeant serving with the 320th
Regiment, 35th Division. He saw action during both the Ardennes and Rhineland campaigns
and was awarded the Bronze Star. During the Battle of the Bulge, Pirosh led a patrol into
Bastogne to lend support to the beleaguered defenders. Profoundly affected by these
experiences, Pirosh spent much of his later career paying tribute to the frontline
infantry soldier.

Pirosh won an Academy Award for his original story and screenplay to Battleground
(1949), starring Van Johnson. Battleground chronicled the siege of Bastogne,
telling the story from the point of view of the ordinary G.I. It became the biggest box
office hit of 1949. Two years later, Pirosh was again nominated by the Academy for best
story and screen play for Go for Broke, which he also directed. Go For Broke
is the true story of the American-born Japanese who served heroically as U.S. infantrymen
in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in World War II.

Pirosh again paid tribute to the infantry in the feature film Hell Is for Heroes,
which he wrote, produced, and directed. But conflicts arose between Pirosh and his star,
Steve McQueen. Pirosh walked away from the film before it was finished. Later that year,
he approached Selmur Productions with the idea for a series about frontline infantry
soldiers.

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US by Paramount Pictures. It is not our intention to infringe on the
copyrights of the creators of Combat! This web page is meant for the free
enjoyment of Combat! fans everywhere. Unless otherwise noted, materials
Copyright Jo Davidsmeyer. All rights reserved. Photographs from the TV
series copyright ABC-TV.